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> From: Shawn Wright <SW@smus.bc.ca>
> To: Multiple recipients of list <vanagon@lenti.med.umn.edu>
> Subject: Re: Sticking Lifters
> Date: Monday, July 08, 1996 4:28 PM
> 
> On  6 Jul 96 at 21:28, JMAXRIDE@aol.com wrote:
> 
> > Need Help,
> > 
> > I have an '85 Vanagon and the lifters occasionally stick at start-up.
> >  Typically they will free up before you get out of the driveway. 
Today,
> > however, one stuck and did not free up for several miles.
> > 
> > I have two questions.  First, can this damage my engine?  And second,
is
> > there anything I can do to prevent them from sticking?  
> My '88 did this almost every day until I switched to synthetic oil 
> (Mobil 1 15w50) after which it disappeared almost completely. Only 
> time it came back was at about 5500km when it was due for an oil 
> change. Fresh oil got rid of the noise again. Can't say it will work 
> on all engines, but since I planned to switch to synthetic anyway, it 
> was a nice bonus 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Shawn
> '88 Westy 332k (Kyra)
> '85 Jetta TD 350k (Jenni)

Shawn,

I had the exact same experience with my '86 westy.  I changed to Syntec
5/50 and I have not had a noise since then.

Charles Michaux

PS. I did the same thing with my SAAB 9000 and no more noise.

One of my better moves